🇰🇪 Kenyan / Swahili · Coastal Cuisine
🥥 Kenyan Coconut Cassava
Muhogo wa Nazi
Muhogo wa Nazi — cassava simmered in fragrant coconut milk with garlic, ginger, turmeric, and fresh coriander. One of the great simple pleasures of the Kenyan coast. See KEN036 for the full recipe and heritage.
Muhogo wa Nazi is the coastal kitchen at its most generous — taking humble cassava and simmering it in coconut milk until each piece is infused with sweetness and fragrance. It is sold at coastal markets as a snack and served as a side dish with grilled fish throughout Mombasa and Lamu.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large pot, Wooden spoon
- 600g fresh cassava — peeled and cut into chunks
- 400ml thick coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 2 garlic cloves — minced
- 1 tsp ginger — grated
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar — optional
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander — chopped
Method
- Peel cassava, cut into chunks, remove woody central fibre.
- Pre-boil in salted water for 20 minutes until almost tender. Drain.
- Combine coconut milk, water, garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, and sugar in a pot.
- Add par-boiled cassava.
- Bring to a gentle simmer — not a vigorous boil.
- Cook for 10—15 minutes until cassava is completely tender and coconut sauce has slightly thickened.
- Scatter coriander and serve.
Chef Tips
- Pre-boiling cassava first gives better texture control.
- Never boil coconut milk vigorously.
- A pinch of sugar balances the coconut milk beautifully.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding raw cassava to coconut milk — it takes too long and the milk over-reduces.
- Boiling coconut milk hard.
The Science
See KEN036 for the full cooking science of muhogo wa nazi.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Complex carbohydrates from cassava.
- Coconut milk provides MCTs.
- Naturally gluten-free.
Cultural Note
Muhogo wa Nazi is a cornerstone of Swahili coastal snack culture — see KEN036 for the full story.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Refrigerate 2 days.
Reheating: Gently on stovetop with splash of coconut milk.
Serve with: Grilled Fish, Kachumbari, Kenyan Masala Chai